Topic: Ebay question

[1981cb650c]

Being only my 4th purchase I have not had much experience actually buying on ebay (lots and lots of bids and surfing) I just had my first negative experience. I puchased a tank http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250210878852 the only question asked was mine. I intended on using this tank as is on my bike, believing it was in fair condition. When it arrived (poorly packeged) it was in a cardboard box with newspaper. It arrived dented in several places, on fairly large one on the top. The paint was heavilly weathered on the top. It has some deep scratches in it and the clearcoat is peeling. It shows sighns of leaking due to the dicoloured blistering paint along the lower seam. It was shipped USPS without shipping insurance (was not offered and I did not ask) My question is was my expectation of this tank too high or was I misled? Should the seller take responsibility for the shipping damage as it (in my opinion) was poorly packed? can ebay help me? Just curious about where I stand I don't want to wrongfully leave negative feedback and be one of those "impossible to deal with" ebay customers. Heres how it has gone so far-

Dear luckyleech,
 
I have shipped the following item to you. You should be receiving it shortly. Once your item arrives in satisfactory condition, please leave feedback for me. I will do the same for you.
 

Dear redhotmomma1973,

Recieved tank today. Box was crushed. Tank was dented. Newspaper packing did not provide adequate protection. Could have been packed better. Has more than minor abrasions in the paint. Section of clear-coat has peeled away. Also has a number of good scratches in the paint. It should have been noted that it would need paint to be useable. Have not left feedback yet, I hope we can come to a fair agreement. Thanks.


Dear luckyleech,

item was shipped in exact condition pictured. Without insurance I am not held responsible for damage during shipment. Postage was over what I charged you, difference came out of my pocket. If I remember correctly, it was also packed inside a black trash bag, and the box it came in was just purchased from Kmart about 30 minutes before it was posted straight to you. Spot of clear coat is in pics posted to the ad. Also answer posted to ad states paint damage, and the fact that it was not dented before leaving my hands. I don't know what kind of agreement you are searching for?

[Uncle Ernie]

Among sellers, this is controversial.  Some feel that if you didn't buy insurance, you're out of luck.  Some feel that you didn't bid on a dented tank, so it's the sellers fault.  In truth, insurance isn't for the buyer, it really protects the seller.  (think about it...)

Both the seller and the buyer are inexperienced- and it shows.  he has less than 200 sales, yet 5 negative feedbacks.  He takes small, dark pictures that don't show anything.  Unless somthing is weird about his perspective, i don't think that would be an oversized box.  Yet- you bid and won. 
I would not have done business with this guy.

So, I would tell him that his packing was insufficient and you would like to return the tank (at your expense) for a refund.  If he refuses, you can try taking recourse through Paypal, if you paid that way, or through Ebay. 
If those channels don't work, leave negative feedback ( bad packing. Came damaged) (don't attack him- it makes YOU look bad) and think a little harder next time.  For instance, if the seller has crummy pictures, ask him to send you beter pix via personal e-mail.

[750goes]

I think a lot of people have been mistaken in what they have bought and also what condition something is in before purchase..  I ask for more photos, better description, and make sure you have plenty of time to get the additional information from the seller....don't make a "gotta have it" choice or you will be disappointed....

Seller does take good photos though... the light/refelcetion probably covers most of the blemishes..

[754]

Insurance does not cover poor packing.. that is up to the seller.. they would deny the claim if it was not packed with a reasonable chance of surviving shipping. Stuff get dropped all the time...think baggage carousel scenario & worse..

 You may not like this... but many, many, many items you buy will not look great when you get them... and when you go back to the pics you can often see what wrong, you just choose to not see it when  bidding..

I find many sellers dont go the mile when packing.. and if it is going US - Canada, transit times are longer

[Head]

 When I buy parts  Thur eBay  I pay with a credit card that offers more protection on top of the rest,Well known seller at least to this board absolutely lied about condition even with good pic's it was trash,two more never sent parts but told eBay an paypal they did,ebay-paypal,could not help because it was lost in transit,My credit card co checked things out and found the parts were never mailed,They gave me my refund and they got there monies back! Most of my transactions have been good. Buying motor cycle parts on eBay can be tricky a lot of the people sound like they know what they are talking about,but some of them bought a motor cycle unbolted some parts and some how became an expert? ASK QUESTIONS,If you do not like the answers,or if they are hazy move on to some one else.
Good luck my friend.  Head

[seaweb11]

I have had these bad deals as well. I usually just put the part up on a shelf.
I have done as you did with good results as well, but I think your going to eat this one my friend.

Here is where I would have put the kibosh on the deal (for me anyway)

{LATE 70'S TO EARLY 80'S} he doesn't really know what he is selling to start with

[Gordon]

Canuck,

The seller's line about him not being responsible for damage during shipping because you didn't pay for insurance is complete bull#$%* and only emphasizes his lack of knowledge about selling online.  Shipping insurance protects the seller, not the buyer.  It is the seller's responsibility to get the item to the buyer in the condition in which it was described.

Hopefully you paid with paypal, as they provide the best level of protection for the buyer.  If you did, just go through paypal and file what's called a "Significantly Not as Described" report.  Unfortunately, you'll have to pay the return shipping, but you'll get the original price and shipping charge refunded, whether the seller likes it or not. 

[Terry in Australia]

Well known seller at least to this board absolutely lied about condition even with good pic's it was trash,

Geez, I wonder who that was? Ha ha, it's ok, I think I know, and I've seen all his negative feedback...........

[hahnda]

A friend of mine had a similar problem that went into dispute with paypal. The item they sold was damaged during shipment. Insurance was offered to the buyer but declined. Paypal sided with the buyer stating that it is the sellers responsibility to get the item to the buyer in the same condition as it was purchased. End of story.

Since I heard that I have required that insurance be on anything I ship.

If you paid with paypal I would certainly dispute it, just as Gordon said.

[Uncle Ernie]

Insurance seems to average around $1.50 for most things.  I now just tell bidders they're getting it. Period.

[mkramer1121]

Being only my 4th purchase I have not had much experience actually buying on ebay (lots and lots of bids and surfing) I just had my first negative experience. I puchased a tank http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250210878852 the only question asked was mine. I intended on using this tank as is on my bike, believing it was in fair condition. When it arrived (poorly packeged) it was in a cardboard box with newspaper. It arrived dented in several places, on fairly large one on the top. The paint was heavilly weathered on the top. It has some deep scratches in it and the clearcoat is peeling. It shows sighns of leaking due to the dicoloured blistering paint along the lower seam. It was shipped USPS without shipping insurance (was not offered and I did not ask) My question is was my expectation of this tank too high or was I misled? Should the seller take responsibility for the shipping damage as it (in my opinion) was poorly packed? can ebay help me? Just curious about where I stand I don't want to wrongfully leave negative feedback and be one of those "impossible to deal with" ebay customers. Heres how it has gone so far-

Dear luckyleech,
 
I have shipped the following item to you. You should be receiving it shortly. Once your item arrives in satisfactory condition, please leave feedback for me. I will do the same for you.
 

Dear redhotmomma1973,

Recieved tank today. Box was crushed. Tank was dented. Newspaper packing did not provide adequate protection. Could have been packed better. Has more than minor abrasions in the paint. Section of clear-coat has peeled away. Also has a number of good scratches in the paint. It should have been noted that it would need paint to be useable. Have not left feedback yet, I hope we can come to a fair agreement. Thanks.


Dear luckyleech,

item was shipped in exact condition pictured. Without insurance I am not held responsible for damage during shipment. Postage was over what I charged you, difference came out of my pocket. If I remember correctly, it was also packed inside a black trash bag, and the box it came in was just purchased from Kmart about 30 minutes before it was posted straight to you. Spot of clear coat is in pics posted to the ad. Also answer posted to ad states paint damage, and the fact that it was not dented before leaving my hands. I don't know what kind of agreement you are searching for?

If you paid through Paypal, file a dispute.  Cite the inadequate description and the poor packaging.  Cite that the claim would not be approved even if insurance was purchased do to inadequate packaging.  I was just offered a full refund on a tank that was not as described.  Was rusted inside when was stated as rust free, etc.  Hope you get a happy resolution to your problem.

[Terry in Australia]

Not wanting to put a hole in your cunning plan mate, and I hope the seller accepts your proposal, but be aware that Paypal take a cut too.

From memory, they'll want you to send them the tank, and they keep the first 50 bucks of whatever you get back, I think.

I had the same problem with a pair of "refurbished" sidecovers for a K2 for 110.00, they were crap so I filed a complaint and Paypal (eventually) said I was in the right, but wanted me to ship the sidecovers to them, and then they'd only give me back 60 bucks.

I kept the sidecovers, and "outted" the seller on this forum. (that was fun............) Cheers, Terry.

[754]

You missed one important part..
 seller made less as they ate part of the shipping, so sending it back also costs more. Could be part of the reason they just put it in the box (rbbers protect, black trash bags dont!!) But a good shipper will pack better.

For 80 bucks keep it and deal with it..whole lot of peeople got a lot less for 80 bux on ebay and are a lot unhappier.

Just remember it alway looks good in the pic when you want/need it

[dustyc]

It looks like there is a large dent in the ebay picture on the right side of the tank on the top, just coming near to the part where it makes the sharp turn over the side.  Is that the dent?  If so, he lied when he said it was undented.  I'd have asked for more pics, but like you said, there wasn't alot of time when you bid.  In that case, I'd have gambled or not bid. 

Sounds like you've made peace with it and have your plan now.  Still it bugs me that sellers get away with this type of stuff and we have to ask for good pictures and have to cover our asses with questions that shouldn't have to be asked. 

Why don't people act right?(Rhetorical question, no need to answer.)

[ekim98]

I found this tank with very little time for communication. I only jumped on it because it sounded like a good tank and I had been looking for an exact replacement to mine. Normally I would not have delt with this guy "late 70's to early 80's" but I saw the tank and knew exactly what it was! Not only that I got it for what I wanted to pay. I was not going to bid any higher. I was prepared to loose what I bid if it was bad, but will try to recover what i can.

Your satisfied with the deal? And where prepared to loose if it was bad You took a chance and bid. So now you want to pull some kind of deal on him and get it for less. Is that what your saying. And now you want someone else to help you write up your responce,so you can save more. You sound like you knew what was going on from the start and are just building a case to screw him over now it appears to me!

[Terry in Australia]

No need to justify to Ekim why you have done what you've done, no one else here is accusing you of dishonesty. Cheers, Terry.

[ekim98]

I would expect nothing less from you Terry. all I did was quote what he had said. He made a bad choice to bid on an item he wasn't sure about and he got stung. It's happened to most of us that make rush decisons at some time or other and we usually have to suck it up and live with it. But in today society no body wants to be responsible. This time both the seller and the buyer were not being responsible.

[Terry in Australia]

I would expect nothing less from you Terry. all I did was quote what he had said. He made a bad choice to bid on an item he wasn't sure about and he got stung. It's happened to most of us that make rush decisons at some time or other and we usually have to suck it up and live with it. But in today society no body wants to be responsible. This time both the seller and the buyer were not being responsible.

Is that right mate? So what does this mean?

"You sound like you knew what was going on from the start and are just building a case to screw him over now it appears to me!"

What a dick.............. 

[ekim98]

                                                         
                                                   

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, I shouldn't have called you a dick mate, so sorry. Cheers, Terry.

[Roach Carver]

Gald you got it resolved canuck. I have been screwed on ebay a couple times so I can feel your pain. As far as responsibility, I expect the seller to photograph and disclose damages to the product( if he expects no problems after the sale). I also expect the seller to take practical precautions when shipping my item. If they plan to chuck it into a box and slap a label on it, let me know that as well.  Seems to me that you had every right to expect a bit of compensation for the damage to the tank. Also seems to me that you were merely looking for a fair resolution to the problem.

[tortelvis]

As far as shipping, at least with UPS, "insufficient packing" is their favorite get out. I work for a firm that ships hundreds of packages weekly and occasionally we must put in a claim. On average, 50 per cent of claims are rejected out of hand with the magic "insufficient packing" claim. I have seen brand new gas tanks from Yamaha arrive in box with a handful of paper surrounding it! If your seller thinks that a bin liner and a wad of old newspaper is enough to protect a tank, he's crazy. Sounds like it was probably dented when it went into the box, but you'll never know. 

[seaweb11]

Terry, leave us Canadians alone. We are a sensitive bunch
Although there was some escalation by an over enthusiastic Canadian........ Hey! It's clod up here!

we get a bit grumpy here in the winter. What's your excuse?..........isn't it 120F every day

[Terry in Australia]

Terry, leave us Canadians alone. We are a sensitive bunch
Although there was some escalation by an over enthusiastic Canadian........ Hey! It's clod up here!

we get a bit grumpy here in the winter. What's your excuse?..........isn't it 120F every day

Yeah mate, the heat, the alcohol, and my occasional low tolerance made me a bad man, but I'll get over it. 

[Uncle Ernie]

"It's clod up here"?    Is that some kind of Freudian slip?